Thanks, Laley.

Anyone's plans interrupted for spring break/summer?

We are postponing our Costa Rica trip.  They are up to 35 confirmed cases, and we were to fly out of Chicago.  We would be returning March 28.  No way to tell where we'll be by that time with COVID.  Resort is giving us 24 months to rebook.  Now to just get the airlines to work with us.  Our daughter is type 1 diabetic, so we're just going to attempt to get the full refund, to give us more flexibility with rebooking our vacation.  

Yeah, we are going to have to cancel Captiva in 2 weeks. I’m assuming I won’t be heading to NY on Friday, but as of now NBC hasnt cancelled

posted by ernest_t_bass

Here is a question for Ohio folk.  We have not traveled via plane since the new State ID cards.  We updated our passports last summer, but my wife and I have driver's licenses that are not expired, however, not the new ID cards.  Are the new ID cards necessary for all travel, or should we be good?

Not required until October 2020 from what I understand.

posted by ernest_t_bass

Anyone's plans interrupted for spring break/summer?

We are postponing our Costa Rica trip.  They are up to 35 confirmed cases, and we were to fly out of Chicago.  We would be returning March 28.  No way to tell where we'll be by that time with COVID.  Resort is giving us 24 months to rebook.  Now to just get the airlines to work with us.  Our daughter is type 1 diabetic, so we're just going to attempt to get the full refund, to give us more flexibility with rebooking our vacation.  

I was about to put down our down payment for our all inclusive resort vacation in Punta Cana, DR for July last week.

I still plan on going in July, I just wanted to have a few things verified before I put the money down. My main question is, if the government shuts down travel to the DR/Caribbean will I have a credit to rebook both the flights and resort at a later date? Or will I have to buy the $800 insurance (which would suck).

I am still waiting on the answer before I book.

posted by Laley23

Both are amazing. Been to them a bunch, and for weddings etc. Drake is historical, and located right at the start (south end) of Michigan Ave. Palmer house is more north. Opposite side of river, still near Michigan Ave, but off Millennium Park. I’d say the Drake is nicer, but Palmer house is walkable to a lot of stuff. I’d google maps it and if the surrounding shops/restaurants/bars or whatever seem better near one go with that. If it’s a wash, or you plan on Ubering most places anyway, go Drake. Nicer and tons of history. 

I think you have it backwards.

The Drake is at the north end of Michigan Ave.

Palmer House is well south of The Drake.  I would definitely stay at The Drake, especially at those prices.

posted by QuakerOats

 

I think you have it backwards.

The Drake is at the north end of Michigan Ave.

Palmer House is well south of The Drake.  I would definitely stay at The Drake, especially at those prices.

I did indeed have my directions messed up but locations correct in my head.

First world problems, but in dealing with our current situation, I'm floored that the best that travel companies can do is "you can come another time and we'll give you a credit."   Our family has planned a once-in-a-lifetime trip, when WE all had time to go, and it has been interrupted, which is OK.  Our airline says that we have until December 31 to use our credit, or we are shit out of luck, we lose our money.  Is that not a license to fucking steal?  If I don't show up for the plane, I get it.  But the plane ain't fucking leaving.  

^ Are you sure that's accurate? The email I got from Delta (I think... might have been another airline) says that payments will be refunded in the form of credit that is good for one year. After one year it is refunded as cash.

I'm dealing with an airline from Panama.  Copa Airlines.

Just got word that we will be receiving our refund IN FULL from our airlines.  Awesome!

posted by ernest_t_bass

Just got word that we will be receiving our refund IN FULL from our airlines.  Awesome!

These airlines are getting destroyed, but not sure how they recover without good Will from customers. Not giving a refund in full at this point would only bring in a small amount of revenue in the short term. If the airline is going to go bankrupt, it wouldn’t help them much. The long play is the only real hope for some. Also seems like it would open itself up to lawsuits if they didn’t.

Glad you got your money back, and glad that airline finally stopped being shortsighted about it.

posted by Laley23

These airlines are getting destroyed, but not sure how they recover without good Will from customers. Not giving a refund in full at this point would only bring in a small amount of revenue in the short term. If the airline is going to go bankrupt, it wouldn’t help them much. The long play is the only real hope for some. Also seems like it would open itself up to lawsuits if they didn’t.

Glad you got your money back, and glad that airline finally stopped being shortsighted about it.

Friend of mine says that airlines say it'll take until 2023 to rebound. Wow.

I'd love to buy some tickets now for an international trip, as long as I can reschedule whenever I'd like to. Not sure that's possible to do. But, man prices are awesome.

posted by OSH

Friend of mine says that airlines say it'll take until 2023 to rebound. Wow.

I'd love to buy some tickets now for an international trip, as long as I can reschedule whenever I'd like to. Not sure that's possible to do. But, man prices are awesome.

Lol what is your friend basing that on? It’s going to take 3 years for the airline industry to rebound to what/where? 

posted by SportsAndLady

Lol what is your friend basing that on? It’s going to take 3 years for the airline industry to rebound to what/where? 

Makes sense to me. Why do you think that isn’t the case. Most would go bankrupt without the bailout.

posted by Laley23

Makes sense to me. Why do you think that isn’t the case. Most would go bankrupt without the bailout.

Airlines have been receiving government funding for a while now. The entire airline industry isn’t going to just go bye-bye for years. 

posted by SportsAndLady

Lol what is your friend basing that on? It’s going to take 3 years for the airline industry to rebound to what/where? 

Well, it took me one quick Google search to find loads of information on it. It's beyond what I care to focus on, and really my depth of knowledge. I'll leave that up to those who are more knowledgeable than me in this stuff.

https://www.investors.com/news/american-airlines-stock-airline-stocks-normal-2023/

posted by OSH

Well, it took me one quick Google search to find loads of information on it. It's beyond what I care to focus on, and really my depth of knowledge. I'll leave that up to those who are more knowledgeable than me in this stuff.

https://www.investors.com/news/american-airlines-stock-airline-stocks-normal-2023/

Wasn’t really loads of information in there. Just that one airline CEO said it could 3 years to recover. 
To me that says he is indirectly asking for more bailout money..there’s nothing in there that says why it would take 3 years to recover, unless you believe airlines won’t be flying commercial flights for 2-3 more years?

posted by SportsAndLady

Wasn’t really loads of information in there. Just that one airline CEO said it could 3 years to recover. 
To me that says he is indirectly asking for more bailout money..there’s nothing in there that says why it would take 3 years to recover, unless you believe airlines won’t be flying commercial flights for 2-3 more years?

Do some additional searching, if you don't believe it. Sure, there could be some motivations for bailout money.

It's not like this truly affects me tons, as I rarely fly. So, I don't get my panties in a bunch about it. Not worth arguing about it.

Just because they reopen and are busy doesn’t mean they just recoup the losses over these months. If you go 6 months without a paycheck, it’s gonna take you about 3 years to be back in the positive. Yes, your salary is back, but you lost 6 months of pay which isn’t just made up when you return to your job.

Large major airlines aren’t going to take 3 years to rebound. Just like they aren’t going to rebound immediately. It’ll be somewhere in the middle but saying 3 years is just shock news. No one knows how quickly they’ll bounce back so saying they’ll take 3 years is just a guess that you’re hoping to spook people and create a buzz. It’s dumb. That’s my point. 

posted by SportsAndLady

Large major airlines aren’t going to take 3 years to rebound. Just like they aren’t going to rebound immediately. It’ll be somewhere in the middle but saying 3 years is just shock news. No one knows how quickly they’ll bounce back so saying they’ll take 3 years is just a guess that you’re hoping to spook people and create a buzz. It’s dumb. That’s my point. 

Strong disagree. Delta made $4.8B in profit last year (highest ever). Looks like by end of next quarter, they will be close to losing that much already this year. By the end of the year and moving forward, even when it opens up, it will be much higher. Without a bailout, the refunds they have issued and the loans they have had to take on, it will be years to recoup the losses.

posted by Laley23

Strong disagree. Delta made $4.8B in profit last year (highest ever). Looks like by end of next quarter, they will be close to losing that much already this year. By the end of the year and moving forward, even when it opens up, it will be much higher. Without a bailout, the refunds they have issued and the loans they have had to take on, it will be years to recoup the losses.

Agree to disagree. 

posted by SportsAndLady

Agree to disagree. 

I’ll add, from a local level, the airport here has lost at least 70% of flights. That includes commuter flights to Charlotte and Atlanta, and total cities in general. Obviously that is temporary, but I think it will take longer to ramp back up to what we had 6 months ago. The airline industry is very political and I think they are worried about the leisure travel traffic and I don’t think all of these flights will be back within a year. 3 years might be a bit much, but it will easily be at least a year. My city relies on tourism and if the NE folk aren’t coming (NY/ Boston), the airlines will suffer on those routes. If/when a 2nd wave occurs, who knows when it will get back to normal. 

First trip since March. Weird going from Chicago ORD to NYC LGA...only 3 total places open between the 2 terminals I was in. Granted LGA I landed at 8:00pm. About 40 people total on my flights. Very clean. No plane service (they give you a plastic bag with water/cheez-it/biscoff and a Lysol wipe when you board.

The airports were just eerie. Especially LGA since it was dark and no natural light was shining in.